September is National Childhood Obesity Month

One in six children are obese in America — that is 17 percent! This is a serious issue that need to be addressed, but unfortunately, not a lot can be done about the situation. Why? Because, ultimately, what a child eats and participates in is their parents’ choice. For example, a parent is responsible for feeding and caring for their own child, which means they have a say in what their child does. A big problem with childhood obesity is that it rarely ends with just the child — meaning the parents are most likely unhealthy as well. Parents don’t have complete dietary control; however, schools are also very responsible for the quality and quantity of food they feed students. But, in most cases, schools feed children less-than-healthy meals in order to cut costs and provide a meal that the children will actually want to eat for lunch.

Smart Snackz a Better Kid’s Lunch Alternative

We have seen this cycle of bad diet choices play out over and over again, which is why Smart Snackz was created. Smart Snackz is a meal delivery service that allows parents to have ready-made meals delivered right to their front door. Instead of feeding your kids foods that you don’t know where they are made and what ingredients are in them, you can have delicious meals served to your home. With each of our meals, you will get a full list of all ingredients used to make each meal. That means no more guessing or wondering what your child is eating; all the information is upfront! Smart Snackz listens to your comments and wishes for your child’s diet and offers you lunches pre-made for them to take to school.

Digestion and Choosing the Right Types of Food

Obesity can be a combination of things that make it difficult for your child to live a healthy life. For one, what they eat at home can affect them in terms of weight. For instance, if you feed your kids greasy, fat-rich foods right before bed, their metabolisms hasn’t worked fast enough to digest their food. What happens is that those fats are then left on the body and cause your children to gain fat. Eating a well-balanced meal at all times of the day is important, but is also important to make sure your child is allowed free movement after every meal. Movement helps stimulate the digestive tract, helping your child digest their food and convert it into energy. As a parent, it is important to keep in mind that you have the ability to change your child’s health. By offering them healthier meals for both lunch and dinner, you will be able to control what they are eating. Also, by giving them more nutritious options, they will be able to burn off those foods and use the nutrients to fuel their bodies. Sugar- and fat-rich foods have been proven to have poor effects on a developing brain. Though the school systems are aware of this, there are still items being sold in school cafeterias that are filled with unhealthy ingredients. By giving yourself more control over your child’s diet, you can ensure that they are eating the right types of foods that will benefit their bodies and brains.

Better Options Lead to Changed Minds

It may not seem like a big deal, but being able to know what your child is eating will give you a better idea of their health and nutrition levels. If you know they are eating well-balanced meals, then you know they aren’t at risk of malnutrition. Also, most children don’t know about the importance of nutrition for their bodies, so, as a parent, you have to guide them to learn about a proper diet. Without this education, your children could grow up with no understanding about their own nutrition, metabolism, etc. When people don’t fully comprehend how the food they eat affects their bodies, they have a tendency to overeat or eat something they shouldn’t. This, of course, leads to weight gain.

Smart Snackz

Smart Snackz gives parents an easy outlet to find well-balanced meals for their children’s lunches. Our meal program ensures that your children get the meals their bodies and brains need to succeed. To learn more about our meal plans, contact us.]]>
https://smartsnackz.com/blogs/news/why-lunch-is-the-most-important-meal-of-the-day2018-10-11T10:18:00-04:002018-10-11T10:20:03-04:00Why Lunch is The Most Important Meal of the DaySmart Snackz

Why Lunch is the Most Important Meal of the Day

It is commonly said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But where is the love for lunch? Lunch actually has a lot more to offer children and adults alike in terms of nutrition. In this blog, we will discuss why lunch is the most important meal of the day, and how you can make this meal convenient for your family.

What’s so good about breakfast anyway?

The real question is, “what’s so good about breakfast anyway?” Breakfast is nothing more than soggy cereal and toast, right? Breakfast doesn’t provide any real nutrition.This statement is only partly true, depending on what you are eating for breakfast. If you eat proteins and fats for breakfast, such as the protein from eggs and the fats from bacon, then yes, that is a nutritious breakfast. But, in most cases, breakfast isn’t as nutritious as it lets on. For instance, most breakfast cereals are chock-full of sugars and carbohydrates, both of which are terrible for your body. And, fried or cheesy breakfast foods aren’t good for you either, such as hash browns and cheesy grits. But, despite all of this seemingly unhealthy eating options, breakfast is still crowned as the most important meal of the day. Why? The idea behind this claim is that breakfast is the first meal of the day, and thus, kick-starts your metabolism and energy for the day. Without breakfast, your body and brain are still running off the fumes of your last meal. Eating breakfast — any kind of breakfast — has some benefit to it, even if the items you are eating aren’t necessarily nutritious. But, when does your body actually get the nutrition it needs? Lunch!

Lunch and Your Metabolism

Lunch is an important meal for multiple reasons. Once your breakfast has fully digested, your stomach may grumble. This will happen around mid-day, which means it is time for another meal. If you did not eat breakfast that morning, your stomach is probably already starving and aching for sustenance. Lunch is a perfect time to fill your belly and give yourself the nutrition you need to carry on with your day. Without a mid-day meal, your body can become weak, and your brain can slow down cognitive function. If you are a hard worker, you cannot afford afternoon lags, which is why lunch can be such a vital meal to your daily digestion. Though your breakfast initially kick-starts your metabolism for the day, lunch is what continues to give you energy throughout your day. If you skip lunch, you generally feel tired, cranky, and empty in the afternoon. Of course, you can always eat an early dinner to fill up, but then that means that you might feel pangs of hunger in the middle of the night.

Lunch Increases Blood Sugar Level

After a long morning of sitting at a desk, children and adults alike need to raise their blood sugar level. Lunch is an ideal time to eat a meal that will replenish you with energy. Not only that, but when you are hungry or your blood sugar is low, you are less active, enthusiastic, and cognitively sharp. Students, specifically, need lunch to help them regain their brain function and allow them to get their needed exercise.

Lunch Also Means Recess

It isn’t healthy for children to be cooped up in their classrooms all day. Exercise and proper nutrition are vital for a child’s health. Lunch is often a midday break for children and offers them some time away from their desks. The same can be said for adults as well. At work, you can get lost in the daily grind. But, lunch provides a moment that you can step away from your desk, breathe, and replenish your body. For children, lunch can mean two things: eating food and recess. Adults may not remember what recess is, but it is a time where children can play and enjoy being a kid. Of course, recess is only after lunch is completed. Breakfast, as well as dinner, does not have recess breaks after it. Only lunch offers children and adults time to take a break and recoup. Best of all, lunch replenishes the body and prepares it for the rest of the day. Breakfast, is burned off too quickly and doesn’t offer the same satisfaction as lunch does.

Meeting New Friends

Lunch also offers children and adults a time to relax and enjoy their time with their friends. Children need a lunch break to not only fill their bellies, but to interact with other children their age. These interactions are essential for the development of a child because it teaches them how to communicate, share, and listen to others. Also, these interactions can lead to friendships that can teach your child other lessons, such as the importance of relationships and compassion. Much of what you learn throughout your life are lessons that occur when you are a child is at recess and lunch. Because of this, lunch can be easily considered the most important meal of the day.

Smart Snackz

At Smart Snackz, we deliver ready-made meals to your front door. Our lunches are prepared and packed with your child’s nutrition in mind. Our meal delivery services are meant to be convenient for you and your family. If you are interested in our services, contact us today and speak with a representative. We can build lunches for your child based on their dietary needs. Contact us today.]]>